Transportation

Nebraska Supreme Court OKs Keystone XL; U.S. Senate has the Next Move

The House voted for the tenth time to approve the pipeline, and a split decision by the Nebraska Supreme Court removes a key objection of President Barack Obama to ruling on Keystone XL. The Senate begins debate Monday.

January 11, 2015 - NPR: The Two-Way

Gov. Christie Changes Stance on Cross-Hudson Transit Capacity

Buried in the Port Authority's recent report on the future its financing and operations, was a plan to move forward with a project to increase transit capacity across the Hudson River.

January 11, 2015 - Bloomberg

Safety in Scofflaws: More Research Needed on the Dirty Secret of Biking

An article on Washington Post's Wonkblog says what some bikers were thinking: sometimes it feels safer to break the law.

January 10, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

The Potential Downside of Railroad Electrification—for Motorists

Electrification of the Caltrain will be great for train riders, the environment, air quality, and public health, but it might worsen traffic congestion between San Jose and San Francisco by increasing the frequency of commuter trains.

January 9, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

San Jose Arterial Street

Atlas Sprawled

One obstacle to laissez-faire capitalism is capitalists' ability to use government to favor one competitor over another; the history of American street design provides an example.

January 8, 2015 - Michael Lewyn

Gov. Brown Sets Ambitious Agenda for Environment, Infrastructure Goals in Fourth Term

The California governor began an unprecedented fourth term by laying out goals to reduce carbon emissions and oil consumption, address road and bridge maintenance, build high speed rail, and construct two huge water tunnels under the Sacramento Delta

January 8, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Mapping Chicago's Current Wave of Transit Oriented Development Projects

Patrick Sisson reports on the fruits of a 2013 effort by the city of Chicago to codify transit oriented development.

January 8, 2015 - Curbed Chicago

'Pop Up' Bus Startup Bridj Expands, Updates App

Bridj, a tech-enabled "pop up" bus service that first hit the road in June of 2014, has expanded of service and launched a new version of its app with significant operational changes.

January 8, 2015 - BetaBoston

The Spinlister App: 'Airbnb for Bikes'

A new app is part bikeshare and part Airbnb.

January 8, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Evacuated Highway 401

Federal Highway Administration Quietly Acknowledges the Driving Boom is Over

The Federal Highway Administration has quietly acknowledged the end of the Driving Boom, cutting its VMT forecast by 24-44 percent. This represents a major change in travel forecasting and planning.

January 8, 2015 - U.S. Pirg

Idaho Legislators Weigh Gas Tax Increase

Calling it an "ideal time" to increase the 25-cent gas tax due to the lowest gas prices in five years, Rep. Linder Bateman (R-Idaho Falls) said legislators will have to "bite the bullet" to address aging road and bridge infrastructure.

January 8, 2015 - Local News 8 (ABC)

Kids Crossing the Street

How to Promote a Kid-Friendly, Walkable City

Jennifer Keesmaat, chief planner and executive director for the city of Toronto, shares tips for how to create safe, fun environments for children.

January 7, 2015 - Active for Life

Electric Buses Stretching to New Lengths

Take a spin on the country's first articulated electric bus (minus overhead wires), manufactured by BYD Motors Inc. in Southern California and tested recently on the Los Angeles Orange Line.

January 7, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Expo Line

New Transit Safety Narrative

Conventional traffic safety programs emphasize ways that individuals can help reduce their risk, but new research indicates that safety depends largely on community planning decisions that affect how and how much people drive.

January 7, 2015 - Todd Litman

Who Will End the Transportation Funding Insanity?

Charles Marohn starts off the year strong by throwing down the gauntlet on the perpetual transportation funding debate.

January 7, 2015 - Strong Towns

Gas and Bikes

California's 'Hidden Gas Tax' Arrives, Goes Unnoticed

The oil industry was predicting motorist outrage and an increase in gas prices of around 70-cents due to the carbon charge effective in the state on January 1. Some prices increased 10-cents, but went largely unnoticed.

January 6, 2015 - San Diego Union-Tribune

California High Speed Rail Breaks Ground Today in Fresno

The long-beleaguered California High Speed Rail project will have a historic moment today, January 6. The media's coverage of the event indicates the yet-to-be-determined future of the project.

January 6, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Massachusetts Approves Initial Regulations for Transportation Network Companies

Transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft took a major step toward legal recognition in Massachusetts.

January 6, 2015 - The Boston Globe

Meet the New Federal Leadership on Transportation

New leadership on transportation issues steps to center stage as the result of Republicans taking control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 2006.

January 6, 2015 - The Hill

Seattle Light Rail Construction

Transit Projects to Watch in 2015

The Transport Politic provides its seventh annual list of major transit investments, finding an enormous amount of effort and funds going into improving transportation systems around North America.

January 6, 2015 - the transport politic

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.